Light indicating switch



April 17, 1945.

Filed April l2,

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April 17, 1945. v Rl HARMQN I LIGHT INDICATING SWITCH Filed April l2, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 1520922 Z021 Lai/72er Patented Apr. 17, 1945 `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIGHT INDICATING SWITCH Luther R. Harmon, Chicago, Ill. Application April 12, 1944, Serial No. 530,688

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a switch adapted to be incorporated in a car lighting system and concerns itself primarily with a switch structure which thru means including varying resistances controls a signal or pilot light for indicating whether certain lights are on or oil and whether the battery or source of energy is of sufcient potential.

According to this invention, the switch is designed to have two active positions. In the rst position, the tail lights and the parking lights are adapted to be illuminated; the signal or pilot light will likewise be illuminated in such rst position, a fact which will indicate that the battery is of suilicient potential for supplying the tail and parking lights. In the lsecond position of the switch member, the parking lights will be cut out and the head or driving lights will be out in; the tail lights remaining on However in the second position of the switch, the signal or pilot light will be oil if the tail lights and the head lights are properly illuminated. So the driver will know the condition of the lights.

Should the signal or pilot light be off in the rst position of the switch, it would indicate a failure in the lighting system. Then should the signal or pilot light be on in the second position, it would indicate a failure in the lighting system, especially the head lights or a drop in the voltage of the battery which would be insuicient to cut out the signal or pilot light.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and dened in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a car lighting system'with my novel switch incorporated therein in top plan view and involving this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken upon the line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the ar'- rows. f

Fig. 4 represents a diagrammatic view of a wiring diagram of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a modified form of switch involving this invention.

In referring now to the drawings, especially Figs. 1 to 4, there is shown an insulated housing or casing 6 having an insulated base l. The casy ing may be made of Bakelite or any other suitable insulating material. Upon and partially embedded n the base 1, there is a suitable contactl plate 8 which is connected by a post 9 extending thru the base with a battery or source of electri- -cal energy I0.

Rearward of the battery plate 8, there is a second contact plate II upon and partially embedded in the base '1. The contact plate II has a post I2 which extends thru the base and is ccnnected by a conductor I3 to a signal or pilot light I4. Opposite the sides of the contact plate II, there are the light posts I5, I6 and II--I1. The post I5 is connected by a, conductor I8 with the parking lights I9 which in turn are connected to ground as is common. The post I5 is connected by a conductor 20 with a conventional dimmer switch 2l which is connected to the laments of the head lights 22 as is well known. The posts I1--I'I which are connected together so that the current from one passes to the other are connected by a vconductor 23 with the tail lights 24 which are suitably grounded as shown. It will be noted that the post I5 and a post I1 and the post I6 and the other post Il lie in parallel lines normal to the sides of the housing. This arrangement allows for proper engagement with the switch member as will later appear.

A movable switch member 25 which may be made of Bakelite or any suitable material is mounted in the switch housing 6 and is adapted to be moved by successive stages over the base l. This switch member carries a solenoid coil 26 having a core 21 for attracting the signal or pilot light Switch arm 28 to which one end of a leaf spring 29 is attached. The switch arm 28 is attached at one end to a contact post 30 which is connected by a conductor 28a to the coil 26 and which extends into a conducting tube or sleeve 3| extending thru the switch member 25 to which reference will later be made.

The free end of the switch arm 28 extendsbetween the arms 32 of a bifurcation attached to the housing 6. This bifurcation carries an arm or contact post 33 tting in a conducting tube 3| extending .thru the switch member.

The free end of the leaf spring 29 is confined upon the top of the upper arm 32 and tends to normally hold the switclrarm 28 against the lower surface of the upper arm 32 in signal light closing position. Upon the upper surface of the lower arm 32 of the bifurcation, there is a block of insulation 34 that is adapted to be engaged by the switch arm .28 when the same is attracted envases of the switch the signalfor pilot light will be 011. i

However in the second position of the switch member, in which the parking lights are cut out and the head lights are cut in,the potential of the coil 45 will. be suflicient to attract the` armature 66 and open the signal light" circuit with the result that the signal light will be off in the second position of the switch. Should the pilot lightI have illumination, in this second position, it would indicate'a failure in the lighting system or a material drop in the battery voltage.

' From the foregoing, it will be evident that this switch thru its signal light will indicate to the driver the condition of the lights and the battery in any ofv its active positions and be the means of preventing accidents and damage to cars thru the unknown failure of the lights or the battery.

An important feature of this invention, it will be apparent resides in the simplicity of the switch construction and the operation thereof whereby the cost thereof will be greatly reduced.

I am aware that many changes may be made and various details of construction modified without departing from the principles of this invention and I do not propose limiting the patent granted thereon otherwise than necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a car lighting system having a parking light, tail lights and head lights, a switch member movable into one position for establishing the parking light and the tail lights and movable to a second position for cutting out the parking light and establishing the head lights while maintaining the tail lights, a source of electrical energy, a solenoid connected with said source of energy, conductors connected at spaced points to said solenoid for supplying current to said tail lights and parking light thru said switch member when said switch member is in one position, and a signal light having a switch controlled by said solenoid, said switch being closed when said said switch member is in its rst position and being open when said switch member is in its second position under a predetermined voltage in said source of electrical energy.

2. In a car lighting system having a parking light, tail lights and head lights, a switch member movable to one position for establishing the parking light and the tail lights and movable to a second position for cutting out the parking light and establishing the headlights while maintaining the tail lights, parallel circuits having different resistances for supplying current to said lights thru said switch member, a signal light and means including said diierent resistances for controlling said signal light according to the position of said switch member.

3. In a car lighting system having a parking light, tail lights and head lights, a switch member movable to one position for establishing the parking light and tail lights and movable to a second position for establishing the head lights, a source of electrical energy, a resistance coil connected to said source of energy, 'parallel conductors connected at spaced points to said coil for supplying current to said lights and a signal light controlled by the resistance in said coil for indicating the conditions of said lights.

4. In a car lighting system having tail lights and head lights, a switch member movable to one position for establishing the tail lights and movable to fan'second"position for 'establishing the head lights while maintainingthe tail lights, a source of electrical energy, a solenoid having a connection with said source of energy, parallel -circuits attached at spaced points to said solenoid for supplying energy-to said lights thru said switch member, and signalling means controlled by th'e resistance in said solenoid for indicating the condition of said lights and said source of electrical energy when said switch memberis in its secondposition'. i

5. In a car lighting system having tail lights and head lights, a switch member movable to one position for establishing the tail lights and movable to a second position for establishing the head lights while maintaining the tail lights, a source of electrical. energy, a solenoid connected with said source of energy, conductors connected at various different resistance points to said solenoid and having other connections for supplying energy to said lightsy a signal light having a connection with said source of energy and a switch controlled by the resistance in said sole-- noid Aand adapted for indicating the condition of said head lights and said source oi electrical energy when said switch member is in its second position.

6. In a car lighting system having tail lights and head lights, a switch member movable to one position for establishing the tail lights and movable to a second position for establishing the y head lights while maintaining the tail lights, a

source of electrical energy, circuits connecting said source of energy with said lights thru said switch member and having different resistances, and a signal light controlled by said different resistances for indicating the condition of said head lights and source of energy when said switch member is in its second position.

7. In a car lighting system having tail lights and head lights, a controlling switch therefor comprising relatively movable members having a tail light position and a combined tail and head light position, a source of electrical energy having parallel circuits for supplying energy thru said switch to said lights and having different resistances, a signal in circuit with said source of energy and means including said resistances for controlling said signal in accordance with the relative movements of said switch members for indicating the condition of said lights and said source of energy.

8. In a car lighting system, a controlling switch therefor comprising an insulated base, a switch member movable upon said base, a solenoid coil carried lby said switch member, a pilot light switch controlled by said coil, tail and head light terminals on said base, contact posts carried by said switch member and having connections with said coil and adapted upon movement of said switch member for engaging said tail and head light terminals on said base, means for supplying electrical energy to said coil and a pilot light in circuit with said coil and said pilot light switch and controlled by the movements of said switch member for indicating the condition of said head lights and said means.

9. In a car lighting system, a controlling switch therefor comprising an insulated base, a battery terminal plate and a signal terminal plate mounted upon said base in spaced relation, a movable switch member mounted upon said base, a solenoid mounted upon said switch member and having a contactl postl extending thru said member and adapted for engaging said battery 4 Y Y asvasse plate upon movement of said member, liglfltcon` one position for establishing the tail llights and movable to a second position for establishing the head lightswhile maintaining the tail lights, a source of electricaI energy,A circuits connecting said lights withl said source of energy and means in said; circuits for increasing the resistance thereof when said switch member is in one position, a pilot light and means for energizing said pilot light When said switch member is in one of l0 said positions. v

LUTHER R. HARMON. 

